Tipperary Aiséirí centre for recovery and rehabilitation celebrates its 40th anniversary

Aiséirí in Cahir celebrated 40 years of treating addiction in Ireland this Tuesday.

The organisation took the opportunity to mark its significant milestone, with the launch of an ambitious strategic plan covering the period 2024-2028.

Aiséirí today consists of four unique centres of recovery located in Tipperary, Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford.

Appropriately titled One Step at a Time, the five-year strategic plan demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to delivering dynamic and progressive treatment services to those struggling with addiction and their families. Service delivery, advocacy, brand awareness, stakeholder relationships and funding are the top five priorities outlined in the client-focused plan.

Founded by Sr Eileen Fahy in Cahir in 1983, the organisation has since grown to four centres. Commitment to the Minnesota 12-step model of care, abstinence-based treatment and the core values of hope, compassion, respect, recovery and excellence, remain the bedrock of the organisation four decades later.

Services have also been expanded over the years and today, Aiséirí is the only addiction treatment organisation in the country that offers a seven-stage lifetime of care model of services from preventative outreach right through to recovery support. 

Alcoholism, drug addiction including poly-substance addiction and gambling are the primary addictions treated. Over the years, Aiséirí has consistently enhanced its services and responded swiftly to new challenges and trends in addiction here in Ireland and Internationally and the increasing level of dual diagnosis and complexity of needs presenting for treatment. 

Each new service developed, and enhancements to existing services made has been brought about as a direct response to seeing a need for action in that area. For example, Aiséirí Aislinn their Kilkenny centre, was set up 25 years ago when Aiséirí identified and responded to an increasing number of young people whose lives were blighted by addiction. 

Aiséirí Aislinn was the first Irish residential treatment centre designed specifically to help people aged between 15 and 21. Today, it is still the only young persons’ treatment centre in Ireland that offers a 12-step model of care and abstinence-based treatment.

Residential detox with 24 hour specialised clinical care is provided for adults and young people who require it, this was another major development at Aiséirí. Extension of this service and other services including extended care, recovery support and family services, all feature in the strategic plan.

Chairman of Aiséirí Tom O’Dwyer, commented: “This is a proud day for Aiséirí. We chose to celebrate four decades of excellence by looking ahead to the future of the organisation. This plan will build on that past and re-shaping futures. Re-shaping the future of Aiséirí as a strengthened treatment and rehabilitation service and centre of excellence, and critically, re-shaping the futures of the young people, adults, families and communities we will work within the coming years. My fellow Directors and I are delighted to launch this plan today and share our core belief, that everyone can recover, everyone can have a fulfilled future.”

Mary Hennessy, Chief Executive Officer, said: “People are at the heart of Aiséirí and that’s exactly where we started our journey when devising this strategic plan. Our valued clients and their families, our exceptional highly skilled and experienced team members and the many stakeholders we engage with were all part of this process. Service delivery, advocacy, brand awareness, stakeholder relationships and funding are the top five priorities outlined today and within each area, there are multiple objectives. It’s a proud day for Aiséirí, celebrating 40 years of delivering excellence in the treatment of addiction in Ireland. It is quite fitting that we celebrate today with the unveiling of our strategic plan, another step forward for our dynamic and progressive organisation. I firmly believe that one step at a time, one day at a time at Aiséirí we’ll get there together!” 

Aiséirí is fully accredited by CHKS, the internationally recognised healthcare quality standards accrediting body. The organisation works closely with the HSE, the Probation Service, other representative bodies and state organisations and is recognised by all the main health insurance providers.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction and would like to learn more about Aiséirí and the many services it offers, simply visit www.Aiséirí.ie or call 052-7441166.